Fast Facts about Chief Seattle (Sealth)Who was Chief Seattle and why was this Native Indian chief famous? Summary: Chief Seattle aka Sealth, was born in central Puget Sound. He is better known by the English pronunciation of his name, after which the largest city in Washington state was named. He was a chief of both the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes.

His eagerness to trade with first European traders and settlers and his conversion to Christianity led to dissent amongst his people. Sealth died on the Suquamish Reservation at Port Madison, Washington. The following fact sheet contains interesting facts, background history and information about the life of Chief Seattle and the events in history that led to his fame as a great Native American Indian leader.

Fast Facts about Chief Seattle (Sealth)

Tribe: Suquamish

Lifespan of Chief Seattle: c1786 - 1866

Alternative names: Si'ahl or Sealth

Role: Leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes

Language: Salishan

Place of Birth: Bainbridge Island, across Puget Sound from the present city of Seattle, Washington

Date of Birth: c1786

Date of Death: June 7, 1866

Place of Death: Port Madison, Washington

Name of Father: Schweabe

Name of Mother: Scholitza

Name of daughter: Kikisoblu or Princess Angeline (name given by colonists)

Other children: He had three sons and four daughters with his second wife, Olahl

Native Indian Enemies: Cowichan, Tsetsibus and Snohomish tribes

Chief Seattle (Sealth)Chief Seattle (Sealth) was born during a period of immense change for the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes when European colonists arrived in his homeland. He was born to a highly respected family. His father, Schweabe, was a noble from the main branch of the Suquamish people which lived in Agate Pass. His mother, named Sholitza, was from the Duwamish tribe who lived on Bainbridge Island at the lower part of the Green River across Puget Sound.

Chief Seattle (Sealth) - George VancouverWhen he was six years old he witnessed the arrival of H.M.S Discovery under the leadership of English Captain George Vancouver (22 June 1757 – 10 May 1798), anchored their ships off the southeast corner of Bainbridge Island. The date of the arrival of George Vancouver was 29 April 1792. Vancouver's explorations opened up the region to European colonization of the New World. George Vancouver and the Europeans established peaceful relationships with the native Indians

Chief Seattle (Sealth) - Vision QuestWhen he was 14 years old Sealth underwent a Vision Quest, in accordance with the traditions of his people. The Spirit Guide revealed during his Vision Quest was the powerful spirit known as the Thunderbird. The Thunderbird was therefore the spiritual guide of Sealth which would walk with him through different stages of his life teaching, guiding and protecting him. The revelation affirmed his noble status in the community of the Suquamish. Sealth went on to fight hard for the people that he led, and won many battles against the enemies of his tribe.

Chief Seattle (Sealth): Inter-Tribal WarfareThere were many disputes, conflicts and inter-tribal warfare amongst the Native Indians. Chief Seattle led his tribe to victory in a decisive battle against the Cowichans of Vancouver Island. The Cowichans had been mounting numerous raids on Duwamish and Suquamish villages. Chief Seattle used his skills as a military strategist to ambush the enemy tribe by tumbling trees across the river where the Cowichans usually sent their raiding warriors. Chief Seattle famously defeated the Cowichans and went on to fight many other battles against different tribes. These included the defeat of a powerful force of S’Klallam who lived in the northern part of the Olympic Peninsula and successful raids against enemy tribes along the Snoqualmie River.

Chief Seattle (Sealth) - Conversion to ChristianityChief Seattle (Sealth) converted to the Christian religion around 1848 following the death of one of his sons in a battle against the Tsetsibus. He, and his children received baptism in the Roman Catholic Church near Olympia, Washington. His conversion to Christianity marked his emergence as a leader who sought friendship and cooperation with the American settlers. Chief Seattle realized that the advance of the powerful and numerous settlers could not be stopped. This conversion to Christianity marked the end of his fighting days. However his conversion to the Christian faith together with his friendship with the white settlers was received with deep suspicion by many Native Indians.

Chief Seattle (Sealth) - David Swinson "Doc" MaynardChief Seattle was intrigued by Europeans and their culture and became close friends with David Swinson "Doc" Maynard (March 22, 1808 – March 13, 1873). Doc Maynard was an American pioneer and doctor, and one of Seattle's primary founders. He also had progressive ideas for the time and became a good friend of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes. Legend tells that Chief Seattle saved the life of Doc Maynard during an attack by an enemy Indian tribe. Stealth also gave protection to the settlers from enemy tribes. Washington became a territory in 1853 and Doc Maynard was appointed as the man in charge of Indian relations. His relationship with Chief Seattle was extremely important when the Seattle Indian Wars (1854 - 1856) erupted.

Chief Seattle (Sealth) - Seattle Indian Wars of 1854 - 1856The Seattle Indian Wars (1854 - 1856) broke out as more and more American settlers came to the Puget Sound region. The clash of cultures and the breaking of treaties and land incursions were to blame. Doc Maynard paved the way for peace and in January 1855 Chief Seattle signed the Elliott Point Treaty. However the arrival of the U.S. Navy sloop-of-war Decatur with a crew of 140 arrived in Puget Sound to protect against possible Native Indian threat. Doc Maynard argued that Chief Seattle's tribe was not a threat and was ordered to re-settle many Puget Sound Native Indians on the Suquamish Reservation at Port Madison, Washington. Other tribes continued to attack the settlers but Stealth was responsible for discouraging up to 4000 warriors not to join the conflict. The Seattle Indian Wars ended in 1856 when the Native Indians who attacked Seattle were defeated and their leaders tried, convicted and executed.

The Death of Chief Seattle (Sealth)Chief Seattle (Sealth) lived his final years in peace and died on June 7, 1866 at the Suquamish Reservation at Port Madison, Washington. In 1890 the citizens of Seattle erected a monument to the memory of this great Native Indian leader for whom the city of Seattle was named.

Famous Chief Seattle QuoteThe following authentic quote was made by Chief Seattle (Sealth).

"My people are few. They resemble the scattering trees of a storm-swept plain...There was a time when our people covered the land as the waves of a wind-ruffled sea cover its shell-paved floor, but that time long since passed awaywith the greatness of tribes that are now but a mournful memory."